posted 30. March 200914:36
I watched it last night. I had forgotten what it was all about. I knew he went nuts and shot a bunch of people- and that it was very graphic- it was! I had forgotten most of it, because it's been years since I saw it.

I wasn't picking up on something...

so don't read the next stuff if you have never seen it...but I want some answers about something:

*****Spoliers*****

At the end of the movie- after Travis kills the pimp, and the other people at the place where Jodi Foster is...they shoot him in the process of everything happening, and he's shot a few times...and he leans back on the couch and you think he's dead, but then later he's reading a letter written by Iris's father (Jodi Foster), and he's thanking him for getting her to go home, and he has pictures on the wall, naming him a hero-the father says he tried to visit him but he was in a coma (Travis)-so I guess that was from the gun shots.

But...I didn't know if that was some sort of fantasy ...because I thought the whole purpose of him having those guns and all the stuff he was doing- was that he was going to kill Palantine (the political guy), and he wasn't able to do that...so he kills these pimps...

So did he get named a Hero because they think he saved Iris from those people?

He was loaded with illegal guns, and had his head shaved in a mohawk...and was nuts- I wasn't sure how he could murder people at point blank range and come out of it a hero.

posted 30. March 200914:51
I thought it was a dying fantasy....I think he died.

Because who would really think that was heroic...where was any of it heroic?? She was a prostitute- not someone's little perfect girl that was held against her will...she was a mess, and the way things were in the area they lived- that stuff happened all the time, and who would think him shooting those people was heroic? Except him.

I actually thought the Pimp was a pretty nice guy- considering what a Pimp is, and what they could be like, he was actually really nice to Jodi Foster...so I actually felt kind of bad that he got killed. Yes- he was a scum...but I don't know why he was who Travis killed. He could have just taken Iris away from there.It seemed like he could have talked her out of that life style.
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posted 30. March 200914:54
The scene where he kills the guy robbing the store, and the store owner tells him to get going, that he'll take care of it, and the kid is dead, but the store owner starts beating him with a stick...that was awful.

I never understand anyone who stays working at a store that gets robbed 7 times in a month...I would sell all my stuff, and move...I wouldn't care if I lived in a homeless shelter somewhere- they have homeless shelters in every town in every state- so why stay somewhere that you have to live like that.
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posted 30. March 200919:38
Great movie. I always thought the mentioned scene was fantasy. That's a pretty bold statement saying you'd sell your stuff and live in a homeless shelter. I volunteered at one in college and trust me you never wanna go there to stay unless it's a have to. I wouldn't sell my business because of multiple robberies anyways and considering the state of the economy most of the ones here are always full........
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posted 31. March 200906:29
I think women have more options, because there are lots of shelters for women and children ...and they aren't horrible. My mom worked at one, and there's one up the road from me, and it's very nice. I'd do that temporary, until I could figure something else out...instead of living in a high crime area.

I am not talking about staying in a shelter in a city- because what would be the point...I am talking about leaving the area all together.
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posted 31. March 200917:03
Most people would research the area thouroughly to find out numerous things including if it's a high crime area before investing in the business.......
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quote:Originally posted by ISIS: I watched it last night. I had forgotten what it was all about. I knew he went nuts and shot a bunch of people- and that it was very graphic- it was! I had forgotten most of it, because it's been years since I saw it.

I wasn't picking up on something...

so don't read the next stuff if you have never seen it...but I want some answers about something:

*****Spoliers*****

At the end of the movie- after Travis kills the pimp, and the other people at the place where Jodi Foster is...they shoot him in the process of everything happening, and he's shot a few times...and he leans back on the couch and you think he's dead, but then later he's reading a letter written by Iris's father (Jodi Foster), and he's thanking him for getting her to go home, and he has pictures on the wall, naming him a hero-the father says he tried to visit him but he was in a coma (Travis)-so I guess that was from the gun shots.

But...I didn't know if that was some sort of fantasy ...because I thought the whole purpose of him having those guns and all the stuff he was doing- was that he was going to kill Palantine (the political guy), and he wasn't able to do that...so he kills these pimps...

So did he get named a Hero because they think he saved Iris from those people?

He was loaded with illegal guns, and had his head shaved in a mohawk...and was nuts- I wasn't sure how he could murder people at point blank range and come out of it a hero.

I thought...did I miss something???

I think that as much as anything as far as the being a hero part shows the way that the Newspaper culture in New York City in the 60's and 70's was. There were THIRTEEN different daily newspapers in NYC at one time during that time period.

In the movie 61* one sports reporter from one paper says to another sportsreporter from a rival paper, "Hey with as many newspapers as there are in this town, we all can't write the same thing".

The way I see it is that a Newspaper guy looked at it as Travis shoots 3 bad guys and saves a little girl and then runs with it.
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posted 04. April 200908:17
Excellent movie, I think 'Mean Streets' is slightly better because Harvey Kietel & DeNiro get to act in more scenes together. I agree its probably a toned down fantasy, the first one Travis has is when Cybil Shepard is walking down the street.

Travis has the look and demenour of the war vet down to a tee, many embittered veterans of today have similar mannerisms.
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posted 16. May 200911:53
I think all of it is real. I always thought part of the point was that, had he succeeded in killing the politician, he would have been an infamous maniac, but by acting on the same impulses he becomes a hero (to some at least) by killing some low lives.
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quote:Originally posted by Shamwow: I think all of it is real. I always thought part of the point was that, had he succeeded in killing the politician, he would have been an infamous maniac, but by acting on the same impulses he becomes a hero (to some at least) by killing some low lives.

posted 24. June 200902:30
There is something that has just crossed my mind. Do any of you know about a documentary, directed by Martin Scorsese as well, entitled American Boy? It is about Steven Prince who is a friend of Martin's and you are acquainted with him as the travelling gun merchant on Taxi Driver.
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Hahaha. I watched Taxi Driver for the first time this year and I loved it! Loved the crazy!!
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